Soccer pushes unbeaten streak to five

Sunday, October 1

Brookings, S.D.

1 p.m.

South Dakota State University

5-4-3

Bellevue

7-3

BELLEVUE

South Dakota State

Photo by: Mark Smither

10/1/2017 3:57:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score

South Dakota State women's soccer pushed its unbeaten streak to five games with a 3-1 victory Sunday afternoon over Bellevue at Fishback Soccer Park.

The Jackrabbits (5-4-3) picked up goals from Leah Manuleleua, Nicole Hatcher and Rachel Hewitt in their third consecutive win, while Hatcher and Carina McLennan recorded assists.

Maggie Smither started between the pipes and recorded five saves in the game, exiting with 15 minutes to go in the game as Taylor Lock closed out the action at goalkeeper.

"Hats off to Bellevue," head coach Brock Thompson said. "I thought they played really, really hard from the opening whistle and their effort created some problems for us. As the game wore on, we started to find our footing a little bit and ultimately, like we do after every game, our job is to analyze it, learn and grow and prepare for the next one."

Playing against an energetic Bellevue offense and steady winds over 20 miles per hour through the first half, SDSU played small ball to work possession into its half of the field, breaking through to take a 1-0 lead at 12:07 when Hatcher found Manuleleua for the one-touch score.

Down one at that point, the opportunistic Bruins continued to push and found an equalizer in the 33rd after a failed clearance. Off a corner kick on the north side of the field, Maiwut Dar secured the ball mid-box and pushed it right for Madison Lambert, who finished past a diving Smither to knot things up in the 33rd.

Hatcher put SDSU back on top early in the second (52:24) with her fifth goal of the season. After a Manuleleua shot was initially deflected by the Bruins' Laurence Rodier, Hatcher stole the ball back from the Bellevue defense, took two steps to her right and ripped a shot into the back of the net.

The teams traded runs a majority of the second half, and though State outshot the Bruins 16-0 in the second half, a third goal did not come until the final minute of action.

With time winding down, a frenzy of Jackrabbit shots were blocked by the Bruin defense, but after a deflection McLennan gathered the ball, crossed it low to the left side of the box where a charging Hewitt fought through contact and scored her first career goal.

Game Notes

Nicole Hatcher scored a goal in her fifth consecutive match.
Hatcher now has 20 career assists, one shy of the school record of 21, held by Diana Potterveld.
Leah Manuleleua has recorded a point in three of her last four games.
With six points in her last two games, Hatcher is now two points away from joining the top five on SDSU's career points record list. The No. 5 spot is currently held by Kayla Braffet (56 points).
SDSU closed nonconference play with a 4-4-3 record.

Up Next
The Jackrabbits return to Summit League play Friday when Omaha comes to town. Kickoff from Fishback Soccer Park is 6 p.m.

-GoJacks.com-